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Arlington Road

Arlington Road

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Film
Review: This is one of my favorite films of all time. It is an exceptionally well-done thriller with so many twists and turns and a fabulous suprise ending. You cannot go wrong with Arlington Road--a definite must see if you have not already.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent in Every Respect
Review: A movie like Arlington Road would probably not be made today, given the impression of sensitivity to the events of September 11 that Hollywood would like to give. That's a pity, because many of the points made by the movie are important and timely issues worth consideration. As one of the characters, Professor Michael Faraday (portrayed by Jeff Bridges), is a college professor teaching a course on American Terrorism, the scriptwriters have the opportunity to delve into these issues in as much detail as any Hollywood movie ever could. Issues of personal safety, of terrorist's motivation, and of government misconduct are discussed with some sophistication; few answers are provided and even the terrorists themselves are revealed as people in search of safety. This is not to say that Arlington Road is sympathetic to mass murderers; but it shows us the complexities of the issues. Ultimately the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad; but that's not known to the world at large.

The acting is exceptional. Tim Robbins has long been one of my favorite actors. I've especially appreciated his concern for the quality of the scripts he chooses and I've managed to forgive him for Mission to Mars. Here he is at his finest, never overacting but conveying extremes from geniality to ferocity, and his understated malice is comparable to none. Jeff Bridges makes an excellent choice as his foil. I've tended to underrate Bridges as an actor--he certainly hasn't exercised the judgement of Robbins where scripts are concerned--but with movies such as The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Vanishing, and the Fischer King he's proven his worth. Here he does indulge a bit in overacting, but for the most part is very convincing.

Director Mark Pellington deserves much of the film's credit, beyond that of the acting and script. Camerawork is terrific, and the whole is suffused with a sense of style and a personal vision that points the movie to its stunning conclusion. That neither Bridges nor Robbins are Superstar Icons with Tom Cruise-like looks or Schwarzenegger-esque muscles makes the film all the more believable.

Finally, the music by Angelo Badalamenti (of Twin Peaks fame) perfectly assists in creating the dramatic sense. It is not so strange as the Twin Peaks music, but nonetheless subtle and quite sophisticated, refraining from the musical equivalent of overacting.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Distrurbing, Frightening, and Unfrogettable (4 1/2 stars)
Review: There is no doubt about it, "Arlington Road" is definitely one of the most disturbing, horrifying, shocking, heart-pounding thrillers made. Now, after the horrifying and unspeakable terrorist attacks on this country on September 11th, this movie is even more horrifying and hard to stomach. Be warned; this is a very shocking and uneasy movie that you will never forget, even if you want to.

"Arlington Road" stars Jeff Bridges and Tim Robbins. After meeting the all-too-perfect family, Bridges starts to suspect that his neighbor, Robbins, just might not be the standup guy that he appears to be. After seeing some shocking and questioning clues to Robbins' past, he starts to suspect that a terrorist is living in his neighborhood and plans to do unspeakable damage and terror somewhere. Is Bridges just plain paranoid, or has he stumbled on a conspiracy that can destroy many lives? All I can say without giving too much, the ending will scare the hell out of you, and will leave you devastated.

This movie was already disturbing way before September 11th, but now the movie is even more shocking and horrifying. It shows you that terror can strike anywhere and can hide behind anyone. Terror has no true identity and has no face. It shows us just how little we know about the world we live in. It also shows us that sometimes the most ordinary person can do unspeakable things.

Is the movie disturbing and hard to watch? Yes. Will the ending either terrify or anger you? Most likely. But this movie succeeded in terrifying me and keeping me at the edge of my seat. The primary goal of a thriller is to keep you guessing and on edge, no matter how gruesome and disturbing the movie may be. I thought this was a great thriller that will never leave my mind and that it was very well directed and acted out. Disturbing as it may be, it is a brilliant thriller that you will never forget. There are some fine extras on the DVD, including a behind-the-scenes feature, commentary, and a theatrical trailer of the movie. (You may want to save the trailer for when you finish the movie. I feel that it gives away the movie a little.)

I hope this review hasn't given away too many secrets, for there are many haunting ones you will encounter in this dark film. There are many people who will hate this movie and be angered by it. I think it's a grim reminder that we don't live in a perfect and safe world after all. Watch this one at your own risk.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Terrorism today
Review: This movie has somehow become better than it was, maybe because of the recent terrorist acts and the similarities that this movie shares with what happoned, very good movie about "un-stoppable" terrorists.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE
Review: The cast of this film makes the story and script believable. The film begins with Jeff Bridges's character finding a young man wandering down his street bleeding from apparent wounds from explosives. He rushes him to the hospital and is thanked heartily by the boy's parents (Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack), who have recently moved in on Bridges's street. Bridges portrays a college professor who teaches about conspiracies, about terrorism and modern society. His own wife had been killed in the line of duty (CIA operative), and this left him with a lot of bitterness and a son to rear on his own. As Bridges gets to know his new neighbours, he grows more and more suspicious of them and starts to delve deeper into their past. Bridges's girlfriend (played by Hope Davis) finds his suspicions to be paranoid and unfounded. However, the more he learns the more alarmed he is. He finds that these people are not at all who they claim to be. Of course it does not take long before the neighbours discover that he is digging into their lives. In fact, you get the feeling that they knew he would. Bridges is the perfect dupe and will eventually take the fall for unspeakable acts carried out by Robbins and his cohorts. In order to fully understand and appreciate how the action unfolds, you need to see the movie. You may be startled by the outcome.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: BRAVO!!!
Review: The movie itself is somewhat slow, but wow, what an ending!! Joan Cusack is so creepy as the "control agents' wife". She slinks up to a woman about to be killed for snooping and casually says "yeah, uh huh..." in a mothering sort of way -chilling!! I'll spare the details only to say that you should'nt miss it. "YOUR PARANOIA IS REAL"

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: What an Ending!
Review: I know that most reviews here talk about the ending to this movie but it can't be denied. I was surprised by it. The movie even though it has great performances by Bridges and Robins, Bridges character makes to many assumptions at parts. The movie is slow to start(except the first couple of minutes) but once it gets going it doesn't stop until the ending. I did like the movie a lot but I would recomend renting the movie first so you can judge for yourself.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good!
Review: This movie kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved the plot and the wonderful suspense. However, the ending wasnt really good. I think it should have given just a little more information on what happened to the man Jeff Bridges played.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: CLOSE TO PERFECTION
Review: ARLINGTON ROAD is fantastic. Fast paced, great acting, good direction, unexpected ending (without being silly), a moral plot, good premise. Bridges and Robbins are both outstanding here. I felt suffocated watching the plot develop to a no winner situation. Amazing.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: WORST ENDING EVER!
Review: When I first watched this movie, I had high hopes. I turned out to be satisfied and I enjoyed the movie all the way up until the the ending. As soon as I saw it, I wished the movie has never been made. How can these reviewers think the ending is awesome? I admit, It was clever how Tim Robbins outsmarted Jeff Bridges, but how can you like a movie where the good guy dies??!!! It just makes me want to kill the writer! This is the worst ending ever and it joining my list for worst endings with Planet of the apes (1968) and (2001).


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